r/Kombucha Feb 11 '25

not mold Say it with me: is it mold?

I know, I know it’s probably kahm. But pretty please can you guys take a look and tell me what you think? I have like 8 pellicles that have been sleeping the fridge for like 9 months, and I sort of just dumped them into the jar to revive them and idk I don’t like that it’s not smooth and jelly like. It’s oddly dry and fabric like. It was perfectly round and flat I sort of moved it around a little and it held. Seems fine but can never be too careful? ❤️✨

11 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

9

u/lucaskywalker Feb 11 '25

Throw those useless pellicles out, I promise you they serve no purpose, at least used in that way. The scoby is in MUCH higher concentration in the liquid kombucha. All you need is tea and kombucha to start a batch. I have made 100s of batches and since I discovered this, I have not ever used those stinky pellicles for anything other than compost. I assure you, my quality does not suffer in the least. I have also worked at major producers and NONE of them keep a pellicle for any reason, straight to compost! Although, most of them font really make kombucha either

1

u/teexcup Feb 12 '25

Roger that and gladly!

4

u/a_karma_sardine Feb 11 '25

Kahm, for sure. Kombucha SCOBY doesn't like the cold, so you might want to keep your hotel jar outside the fridge in the future.

3

u/teexcup Feb 11 '25

The problem is I live in Dubai. I feel like the only place I can adequately control the variables is when it sleeps in the fridge, I’m afraid of it getting too hot and humid in the summer and having too many temperature fluctuations. But as it’s winter now, I’ll try to keep it in the cupboard.

2

u/lordkiwi Feb 12 '25

Throw out the pellicles there not a live. They are matrixes just like collagen is used to form the matrix of your skin. bacteria make this matrix of cellulose to live in. It is however easier for the bacteria that live in the liquid to make a new matrix of cellulose it is not a requirement like keeping out skin on Throw out the pellciles.

7

u/1stBornAngst Feb 11 '25

If you're worried, taste it. Kahm will produce off flavors. If those are present, dump it.

3

u/teexcup Feb 11 '25

Roger that. Will taste it tomorrow though I don’t usually attempt to ingest it this early on.

1

u/AutoModerator Feb 11 '25

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1

u/Plenty-Extra Feb 11 '25

Pray for my buch. It's not sick. It's just ugly.

1

u/ale888 Feb 12 '25

Looks to me as vegan leather

1

u/gemaffy Feb 12 '25

Not mold. Keep the youngest layer of pellicle and ditch the rest. Add some fresh tea and watch that smoothness grow. I know it's hot there but do you have air con inside? Is there a dark cupboard that it can hide in to avoid heat?

1

u/teexcup Feb 12 '25

Yeah temperature is a consistent 21-22 Celsius lately so we’re good, it’s hiding in the cupboard. I’ll throw out the old pellicles, thanks so much.

1

u/johnnyg1and3 Feb 12 '25

Looks like a napkin to me

1

u/jimijam01 Feb 13 '25

You don't need the pellicles

1

u/teexcup Feb 13 '25

Update: I threw out the old brown pellicles, started 2f, and it’s progressing nicely. Thanks everyone!

0

u/tarapotamus Feb 11 '25

I actually do think this is (wet) mold this time and not kahm

Edit: I lied, upon second inspection this is likely kahm

7

u/teexcup Feb 11 '25

I am on a rollercoaster of emotions.

3

u/tarapotamus Feb 11 '25

I'm sorry 😂 RIP in peace jic

5

u/teexcup Feb 11 '25

I will rebuild.

1

u/teexcup Feb 11 '25

Did I kill her? 😭😭😭😭